As I get back into creating more traditional paintings I am having a terrible time shooting photos that accurately represent my art and the subtleties that are an integral part of their charm. The photos all seem crude abbreviations when compared with the originals. Over the years I have read innumerable articles on how to sucessfully shoot artwork and am very familiar with the theories, procedures and set-ups to do it correctly.
Funny that the best photos seem to be from long ago when I shot with a Pentax K1000 in a small room with poor lighting and dark paneling.
As my studios and camera equipment have progressed in quality over the years my photos have seemingly inversely become worse.
Go figure!

A Chance Encounter Between the Heretic and the Bureaucrat Resulting in an Awkward Dance Wherein Each Presumes the Other more Loathsome • 10"x7"

My latest Sequential Art endeavor is now available here. Each of the three I have created to date is very different from each other. This third work is more in line with what is often created by independent comic artists with a clearly light hearted autiobiographical bent.

I had a blast illustrating Limerick Comics, Robert Hoyman's fantastic 32 page children's book of original limericks. Presented in a comic book format with six panels per page, the sixth panel of each page is a supplemental paragraph of factual background information related to the subject matter in that limerick. This sixth panel featuring fun facts is a natural learning extension and can be a springboard for in class discussion or facilitate discourse between parents and children.

While geared toward middle grade readers, this book will be whole heartedly embraced by educators for the numerous attributes and benefits it can provide to them in the teaching process. In addition to the hardcover, softcover and Kindle versions, professionally created and produced lesson plans will soon be available at LimerickComics.com to accompany the book.

It's been a long year here. I'm struck by the bookends created from the last post to this one, and all that has transpired in between. Things are settling down and I expect to be postiing new illustration and fine art works much more frequently now.

My 2nd graphic novel is now available in my store. "Shortcut" is a riveting survival-adventure story with a horror twist. With a chance find, two travelers lost in the great forests of the Pacific Northwest slowly reveal a parallel occurrence in time.

A children's book, YA and several fun illustrated deeper literary properties in progress. Unfortunately for contractual and copyright reasons I am required to be vague and can't show any of my work at this time. Frustrating! Stay tuned.

Firstgarten!, the most recent picture book I illustrated, is available now. It is the story of a young boy who would rather stay in kindergarten than move on to first grade, written by educator Carliss Maddox. You can read a more detailed description and get your own copy here.

I created 13 interior chapter opener illustrations for Jeff Lazarus' latest book "Listen Like a Dog". This book takes a serious look at the art of listening with humorous analogies throughout demonstrating how humans can learn to be better listeners using dogs as examples.

The latest children's picture book I illustrated co-written by former MLB pitcher Steve Trout and Marlene Matthias is now available here. This fun story has baseball tips woven throughout and an important message for parents.

This has been the hottest summer on record here and it's still going strong. The thick haze from regional forest fires reminds me of growing up in LA in the heyday of leaded gasoline and minimal concern for air quality. Living 300+ miles from the coast leaves cooling seaside breezes only a distant memory.

Dogtology is included in an April 14 review in the Chicago Tribune under the heading "The latest, greatest books about animals". Dogtology is a belief system that explains humankind's fur-ociously fanatical devotion to Dog. This hilarious book is filled with witty insights into our relationship with Dog. Release date is June 2, 2015, but you can pre-order now at dogtology.com.

Latonya S. Hicks Children's book The Goldenly Wreath is the winner of the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Awards in the Children's Inspirationa/ Motivational category. It was great meeting Latonya at our Barnes & Noble Seattle book signing March 28th!

The long awaited second printing of the children's book The Goldenly Wreath is now available! Written with one of the most inspirational and engaging narratives for children’s books today, The Goldenly Wreath is an important reminder to readers of all ages that no challenge is too great to overcome if you believe in yourself.

I worked up this illustration from a rough sketch that was killed at an early stage. I did 32 illustrations for that project which is a humorous book for dog lovers titled Dogtology. It will be available June 2, 2015. I will be posting more about it in the coming months. If you love dogs or know someone who does you will definitely want this book.